Park Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Beth Brunso will be remembered by friends and family as a giver.
Brunso died Sunday of suicide. She was 48.
Sven Brunso, Beth’s husband of 21 years, said whether she was running outside to give a jacket to someone homeless or up until 2 a.m. baking cookies to cheer up a friend, she was always thinking about other people.
“No matter how busy she was, she’d drop everything to help someone,” Sven said. “She was my best friend.”
A Durango resident since 1992, Beth volunteered for multiple causes, including the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and Manna Soup Kitchen. She was a college track runner and “amazing athlete,” who spent her life encouraging students, friends and anyone else she met to get off the couch, Sven said.
Beth worked at Animas Valley Elementary School, Miller Middle School and spent the past eight years teaching at Park Elementary.
“There will never be another Beth,” Molly Harris, Beth’s older sister, said on behalf of her family. “If you could describe her in one word, it’s just giving – selflessly. If you met her, you’d remember.”
Sven said his wife’s death was unexpected, and he believes her apparent suicide was impulsive and unplanned.
“Everyone was so shocked by her death,” Sven said. “I think she gave all the time and never knew how to ask for help. I don’t think she’d want to sugarcoat this. No matter how happy you are on the surface, you need to be able to get something back.
“I want people to realize, when life is hectic, you have to take the time to sit your loved ones down and really say, how are you doing?”
Sven said Beth was an organ donor, and her organs went to seven people.
Durango Mayor Christina Rinderle and Chris Bettin, coworkers of Sven’s and friends of the Brunso family, established a memorial fund Wednesday to raise money for Beth’s family at www.gofundme.com/beth-brunso-memorial-fund.
As of Saturday afternoon, 171 people had donated $15,626 of a $50,000 goal, and the page received 1,300 shares.
Durango School District 9-R posted a message to its website offering an informational session for parents on how best to support their kids from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday in the Park Elementary cafeteria.
Counseling is available to students.
On Saturday, the La Plata County coroner confirmed the cause of death as a poly drug overdose, which means a combination of two or more psychoactive drugs, and suicide.
Beth is survived by her husband, Sven; daughter, Aspen; son, Stowe; parents, Dave and Jan Munger; brother, Brad Munger and wife Carla; brother, Max Munger and wife Katie; sister, Molly Harris and husband Kevin; sister, Mindy Harper and husband Matt; and 11 nieces and nephews.
Family members said there will be a celebration of Beth’s life in summer 2017.
jpace@durangoherald.com
For help
Help for people having suicidal thoughts or for those who fear a person is considering killing himself or herself is available from these sources:
: 24-hour crisis hotline at (970) 247-5245.
National Suicide Prevention hotline: (800) 273-TALK (8255).
RED Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio: (888) 628-9454.
National Crisis text Hotline: 741741
Boys Town Hotline: (800) 448-3000.
Safe2Tell Colorado: (877) 542-7233 or online at
.
Support Line: (844) 493-8255. The line has mental-health professionals available to talk to, live chat or text adults or youths in English and Spanish about any crisis.
: (866) 488-7386. Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth via online chat, text or phone.
(720) 962-0706. This is not a crisis hotline, but the fund is available to youths who face social or financial barriers to crisis counseling. The organization requires a referral by a school counselor or mental health professional.
